Former Jama`at-e-Islami Hind president passes away

Aligarh: Former president of Jama`at-e-Islami Hind, a leading Islamic organisation in the country, Dr Abdul Haq Ansari has died of a heart attack here. He was 81.

The noted Islamic scholar, who was the president of Jama`at-e-Islami Hind from 2003 to 2007, breathed his last on Wednesday. Dr Ansari, the founder of the Islamic Academy of India, spent most of his professional life in various research and teaching projects at Aligarh Muslim University, Shanti Niketan, UPM University in Malaysia and the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. He graduated in Arabic and Philosophy from the AMU in 1957 and obtained his Masters degree and PhD in Philosophy from the university in 1959 and 1962 respectively. He also obtained his Masters degree in Comparative Religion from Harvard University, USA in 1972. Ansari is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son. A large number of prominent religious leaders and clerics are expected to attend his funeral later today. PTI